#264: Strikes, fatal accident, e-scooters,Tesla
Latest stats on asking rents
Dear 20 Percent,
Back in the olden days when I moved to former East Berlin the streets were filled with junk. But unlike today, a lot of it was interesting junk. East German furniture, East German lamps, East German stereo equipment. East German prams. East German hats. After reunification, it seems, most Ossis yearned for modern Western stuff so they just dumped their frumpy communist possessions on the street, unaware they would become vintage collector’s items within a few years.
These days, you rarely find anything more interesting than a mouldy matress, some random Schlager CDs or a delapidated IKEA Billy shelf.
Just loads of normal trash.
So, I welcome the city government’s effort to do something about all this low-quality rubbish. Fines for dropping cigarette butts, coffee cups and plastic bags are set to rise to €250, up from €55. For garbage heavier than 3kg, the fine will rise to a whopping €3,000, up from €100.
Of course, this being Berlin, the devil will be in the enforcement. Dumping trash is often a crime without witnesses. Good luck, Polizei.
More news below.
Maurice
Strikes!
Deutsche Bahn train drivers are striking for the sixth time today (Tuesday) - which means virtually no long-distance trains (DB info in English here) and very limited S-Bahn service until 2am Wednesday. A few S-Bahn trains are running, including the S9 to the airport — the S-Bahn has info in English here. Deutsche Bahn failed to stop the strike by the GDL train drivers’ union in a Frankfurt court on Monday. The union and GDL have still failed to reach an agreement on working times. GDL is demanding a reduction from 38 to 35 hours per week with no pay cut. Meanwhile, Lufthansa cabin crew are also striking Tuesday and Wednesday. Their union, UFO, is demanding 15% more pay. Around 50 Lufthansa flights will be cancelled at BER.
83-year-old driver kills mother and child
A 41-year-old Belgian tourist and her 4-year-old son died in hospital shortly after being hit by a car on Leipziger Straße in Mitte. The 83-year-old driver, who was driving over the 30kph limit, reportedly veered into a bike lane and hit the pedestrians who were trying to cross the street after the driver in front of him made a hand signal communicating they could cross. The accident sparked outrage online and has reignited debate over whether elderly drivers should be subject to regular assessments, an EU rule that is being blocked in Germany by transport minister Volker Wissing (of the car-friendly FDP).
E-scooter Ordnung
The district of Mitte has set up a 3.5 square kilometre no-parking zone for e-scooters, according to RBB24, an area about the size of the Tempelhof park. Well, not exactly a no-parking zone: “Vehicles can only be parked in areas designated in the booking app or in the Jelbi app and the rental can only be terminated at that point,” said transport provider BVG, which runs the multi-modal Jelbi mobility platform that includes e-scooter rentals. About 100 e-scooter parking areas have been set up in Mitte at hubs like Alexanderplatz, Unter den Linden and the Brandenburg Gate.
No faux soldiers involved in Checkpoint Charlie shooting
A man was shot dead about 8pm Sunday night at Checkpoint Charlie in what police believe is the latest gangland violence in Berlin, according to BZ. The 44-year-old was hit by seven shots and died a short time later in hospital — police were able to arrest a suspect near the scene. Relatives of the man, purported to be part of a Berlin crime family, then gathered at the hospital. Detectives are looking to see if the murder is related to a 2020 shooting death outside the Tempodrom, just a few blocks from the former East German border crossing, that was attributed to crime families and the drugs business.
Power back at Tesla
Following an arson attack that cut power at the Tesla factory in Brandenburg for a week, the car plant has been reconnected to the grid, reports RBB. People calling themselves the Vulkangruppe claimed responsibility for the attack, referring to the environmental impact of the factory, which employs 12,000 people. The cost of the power outage would be “in the high nine-digit euro range”, Tesla said. CEO Elon Musk called the attack “extrem dumm”, writing in German on X.
As always, a few great events, selected by our friends at The Next Day Berlin.
AWAY presents DJ Stingray 313, Pariah & Shapednoise
Saturday, 16.03, 11 pm - 6 am. Zenner, Alt-Treptow 15, 12435 Berlin. Tickets: €24+3.
The Berlin party AWAY is making its Zenner debut, showcasing 🎧 DJ Stingray 313 on the decks. Expect a fusion of Techno, Electro, Miami Bass, and more, propelling us into the future.
Roda de Feijoada with Samba
Saturday, 16.03, 2 - 10 pm. Festsaal Kreuzberg, Am Flutgraben 2, 12435 Berlin. Tickets: €7.50/€15.
As Brazilians, we don't skip a typical feijoada, a dish made with rice, black beans, farofa, kale, and picanha for non-vegetarians. The afternoon is accompanied by a samba band, gafieira samba lessons, and special activities for children.
Open Decks Queer Weekend
Sat-Sun, 16-17.03, 12 - 8 pm. Holzmarkt25, Holzmarktstrasse 25, 10243 Berlin. Tickets: €2.50. Get ready for a fabulous Queer Weekender packed with live music, LGBTQIA Market, workshops, and food.
More at The Next Day Berlin.
Factoid
According to Investitionsbank Berlin’s 2023 housing market report, average asking “cold” (without heating, etc) rents have more-than doubled from €5.75/m² in 2014 to €13.99/m² in 2023 in just a decade. New-build flats are extra-expensive: Last year, the averagte rent for a flat built between 2022 and 2023 was €19.85/m².
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I’m also sad to hear about Berlin losing its eccentric personality. It’s the capitalist norm spreading.
Super sad news about the accident. It's a risky practice when a driver, out of kindness, signals for pedestrians to cross. However, cars from other lanes may not see the pedestrians, leading to accidents.